[Report by Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanghai] In order to further promote the construction of “Elderly Abacus and Mental Arithmetic” course and build a communication platform between teachers and students in different regions, the 2020 Elderly Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Online Synchronous Teaching Activities in Six Regions Across the Strait organized by Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanghai and Shanghai Xuhui District Huajing Town Community School officially kicked off at 9:00 am on November 20! Lu Ping (President of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanghai), Guo Wei (Principal of Huajing Town Community School) and dozens of members of the senior abacus and mental arithmetic learning salon in Huajing Town participated in this live broadcast.

The live broadcast was presided over by Principle Guo Wei. She first extended heartfelt thanks to all the leaders and colleagues of Chinese Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association, Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Associations of six regions across the Strait, Shanghai Xuhui District Community College, and Wuchang District Community Education College of Wuhan, Hubei Province for their support in this event, and then introduced the significance of synchronous teaching activities in the context of the epidemic. Subsequently, Liu Jianhua (Chairwoman of WAAMA and CAMAA), and Du Jian (President of Shanghai Xuhui District Amateur University, and Dean of Xuhui District Community College) addressed the event respectively through videoconferencing.

In her speech, Chairwoman Liu Jianhua who was then in Beijing, sent a warm congratulation on the successful launch of this activity, and extended sincere greetings to all teachers, trainees, and abacus and mental arithmetic enthusiasts who have participated in online teaching activities, as well as high respect to friends from all walks of life across the Strait for their continued support in the inheritance, protection and development of the abacus and mental arithmetic cause on behalf of WAAMA and CAMAA. Chairwomen Liu pointed out that abacus is a treasure of traditional Chinese culture. With a history of nearly 3,000 years, it was officially included in the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” in 2013, and highly appraised as “providing another knowledge system” for the world. Modern science studies have shown that learning abacus and mental arithmetic can not only develop children's intellectual potential, but also invigorate our brains, improve intelligence and defer senility. It is a “magic weapon” for middle-aged and elderly friends to maintain health and longevity. Chairwomen Liu hopes that all teachers and trainees can take full advantage of this “Cloud Gathering” online teaching opportunity to teach, learn, do something and have fun at an old age, while actively broadening communication channels and experiencing the joy of learning abacus as well as abacus and mental arithmetic, so as to contribute to the construction of the lifelong education system of abacus as well as abacus and mental arithmetic.

In his speech, Dean Du Jian pointed out that the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic for the Elderly curriculum for the Community School in Huajing Town has undergone three stages: course development, characteristic cultivation and intelligent learning, which has received strong support from the leaders and experts of CAMAA and Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanghai as well as the guidance of counterparts and experts from all over the country. Through learning abacus and mental arithmetic, the trainees’ elderly life is enriched, and their knowledge and cultivation in abacus and mental arithmetic is increased. It also enables the trainees to gain a sense of accomplishment in the process of healthy elderly care. The trainees also shared abacus and mental arithmetic knowledge with their families, friends and neighbors in the community, spreading the knowledge and culture of abacus and mental arithmetic. The practice of abacus and mental arithmetic courses for the elderly makes people's elderly life healthier, more elegant and happier.

Afterwards, Shen Zhenfang, the main lecturer for the special session in Shanghai, presented a wonderful on-site class of abacus and mental arithmetic for the elderly. The lecture with rich contents, diverse forms, novel design and lively atmosphere has attracted a large number of elderly trainees from different places. The number of viewers in the live broadcast has soared, pushing the atmosphere of this event to the top in an instant. In the interactive discussion area of Ms. Shen's live broadcast class, everyone expressed their likes and good comments.

Up to the deadline, the number of viewers in this live broadcast has reached 900. Elderly trainees from different places attended the same class, answered the same question and danced with the abacus together under the leadership of Ms. Shen at the community schools, neighborhood committees and even their homes, enhancing the friendship between each other and sharing the fun of learning abacus and mental arithmetic.